Can't forget the massacre of Taiwan

A sharp, paralyzing pain shoots through the heart of every Taiwanese this time of year.

The agony of Feb. 28, 1947 is still a fresh wound, raw with the memory of the over 20,000 murdered by Chinese Nationalist (Kuo-Ming-Tang) troops.

Martial law was imposed in Taiwan for 50 years since the massacre.

Today, the Taiwanese people have begun to walk out of the shadow of 2/28 and have started to enjoy the freedom and democracy they have fought for. But they face an even bigger threat now. China refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan. It targets Taiwan with missiles, and insists that Taiwan is part of China.

The Bush administration has, quite rightly, noted to China's leaders that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 is the law of the land, committing the United States to a peaceful resolution of the cross-Strait relationship.

The United States has now added the "consent of the people of Taiwan" to its policy concerning any resolution of Taiwan's relationship with China. For these supports, the people of Taiwan are most grateful.

We would like to see the United States support Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian's statement of Aug. 3, "Taiwan is not a part of any other country, nor is it a local government or province of another country. Taiwan and China standing on opposite sides of the Strait, there is one country on each side."

The pain of 2/28 does not go away. Nor does our vigilance and hope.

Ken Lin